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"\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=\\\"\\/wp-content\\/uploads\\/2008\\/10\\/08\\/surfusa.jpg\\\"&gt;&lt;img class=\\\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1000075600\\\" title=\\\"surfusa\\\" src=\\\"\\/wp-content\\/uploads\\/2008\\/10\\/08\\/surfusa.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"surfing america\\\" width=\\\"188\\\" height=\\\"220\\\" \\/&gt;&lt;\\/a&gt;&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;October 7, 2008: &amp;#8211; &amp;#8211; San Juan Capistrano, Calif. &amp;#8211; October 6, 2008 &amp;#8211; Surfing America, the National Governing Body for surfing in the USA, is excited to announce that Southern California businessman and lifelong surfer, Sean Nevett, has pledged $50,000 to Surfing America for its National Governing Body and USA Surf Team development programs.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Nevett, an investor from Encinitas, has been the top private supporter of the non-profit organization since its inception; and he has now donated a total of $150,000 to the Surfing America cause.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;This project is about the sport of surfing and is an important initiative to improve the sport in a really big way,&amp;#8221; said Nevett.\\u00a0 &amp;#8220;I&amp;#8217;m pleased to be in the position to help out such a noble cause and I hope others in my situation will also step up and contribute financially to Surfing America.&lt;br \\/&gt;\\nThis organization is doing tremendous things for kids, all over the country, who love to surf.\\u00a0 It&amp;#8217;s a natural giveback for anyone who&amp;#8217;s benefited from everything the sport has to offer.&amp;#8221;&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Surfing America&amp;#8217;s executive director, Mike Gerard, has been working hard to organize the sport nationally, secure USOC recognition, and raise the much-needed funds to fuel the effort.\\u00a0 Surfing America is a California 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit company whose mission is to promote the growth, competitive success, and positive image of surfing in the USA and to provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing, and administrating the sport&amp;#8211;while producing champions.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;This is an incredibly generous contribution from Sean Nevett for which we are extremely grateful,&amp;#8221; said Gerard.\\u00a0 &amp;#8220;Sean&amp;#8217;s ongoing generosity and support has been extremely important to successfully continuing to build the program. Surfing America has come a very long way in a short time, but still carries some liabilities from starting up the rebuild and securing the National Governing Body status in 2004.&amp;#8221;&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;Also, while we&amp;#8217;re making solid progress, the need to continually improve and expand Surfing America&amp;#8217;s programs on a national level is significant,&amp;#8221; added Gerard.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Surfing America is responsible for holding the USA Championships every year and fielding the official USA Surf Team to international competition.\\u00a0 SIMA, several top industry brands, and PacSun have all contributed to the effort. And, while the newly revamped PacSun USA Surf Team is back in the medals, the organization is not out of the woods.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;As an IRS recognized 501(c) 3 charitable organization, all donations made to Surfing America are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. Donation checks should be made payable to: Surfing America, 33157 Camino Capistrano, Suite B, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. End of year tax receipts are sent to every individual donor of more than $250. For donations under $250, a cancelled check or credit card statement is sufficient evidence for IRS purposes. Surfing America will send a tax receipt to any donor who requests one.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Surfing America, Inc.&lt;\\/strong&gt;&lt;br \\/&gt;\\nSurfing America is the ISA-recognized National Governing Body for Surfing in the United States. The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, Bodyboarding, and Surfriding&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Surfing America Mission Statement &lt;\\/strong&gt;&lt;\\/em&gt;&lt;br \\/&gt;\\nThe Mission of Surfing America is to promote the growth, competitive success, and positive image of surfing in the USA and to provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing,&lt;br \\/&gt;\\nadvancing, and administrating the sport&amp;#8211;while producing champions.&lt;\\/p&gt;\\n\""^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.grindtv.com/surf/sean-nevett-pledges-50000-to-surfing-america-ngb/>